1. Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit this play? Why do you believe the dramatic action would be best served in this venue? This show in particular is hard to do due to its peculiar settings/props. For the most part, having a car, or even a cardboard one, is not only difficult for the building crew, but also hard on audience since it may hinder view of the actors. On the other hand, I think this play is also very flexible. A car for one show could be an actual car whereas another could be just two chairs. Therefore, I think that majority theatres that would best suit this play would be ones that are not too distant that viewers have a problem seeing while also not being too intimate. Having an approach of less direct, intimate interaction with audience allows for people to better understand how the chorus members are representing 3 people. They may stand more off from the main action, which can be difficult in a situation such as a black box theatre. Additionally, hanging traffic lights and such would be better presented in a head on or slightly angled view such as with thrust and proscenium stages. The play may be Implied to be straight on, but venues can exist outside of proscenium and thrust. As suggested in class, a dorm can even suffice. Theater has been a form of entertainment, culture, and self expression long before elaborate theaters were built to hold audiences and fit the play’s specific needs. Sometimes, two chairs are actually better than a full car.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play? One of the most obvious is that it's a play involving cars (even the title is about driving). However, cars on live set are difficult to have and even in the situation in which you can get a car, or something that looks like one, it can be very difficult to see for viewers.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play? For the Female Greek Chorus, who plays the mother, aunt Mary, High School Girls, thirties-fifty, a more adult dress would probably be most. It emphasizes how these are the older, e female figures in Li’l Bit’s life. They also, therefore, have more authority in situations. This especially applies to the high school girls who feel superior to Li’l Bit. This idea that what the female characters in Li’l Bit’s life say is more trustworthy since they're older may have some influence in Li’l Bit’s decision to not try and explain what all has been going on. She may be worried that people will judge her or maybe not even believe her.
The Male Greek Chorus: Plays the grandfather, waiter, high school boys. Similar to the female chorus, their dress should match that of a young adults. However, I also think it's good to touch on the typical dress they wore where they live. Men are seen as the dominant, working contributors to the family. The grandfather, especially,, seems to believe in a more traditional household and enjoys showing his confidence,
Teenage Greek Chorus: Plays the grandmother, high school girls, and the voice of 11 year old Li’l Bit. Since this character is the one chorus who represents Li’l Bit at 11, it's important to help portray how she's young without freaking out the audience too much. As Paula Vogel suggests, you don't want people to be so uncomfortable that they actually believe the person to be under 18 so much so that they need to leave.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play? Considering the difficulties already setup as majority the play being centered around driving, implementing car and car related lighting is the best way to convey the image to the audience. For example, car headlights, along with sound effects, can be added when the ignition is turned on. Traffic signal lights can also be used to cue the audience. Everyone is familiar with green meaning go and red meaning stop. Is projected of a bicycle in a circle with a diagonal red slash. This projection was used to give people the image of an idea as Lil Bit follows this light. With explaining her realization of pedophile not meaning people who like bikes
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play. Non lyrical music to add suspension in situations in which Li’l Bot feels confused or anxious. Since the general vibe is uncomfortable and/or confused, it'd be good to having a soundtrack of sorts that followed a general theme in rhythm through the play. I really liked how the play writer also added a list of sexist songs around the time the play takes place. This definitely allows people to delve deeper into the time era with nostalgia while also reflecting on just how bad some of the songs around the time were to females in such a man-dominated society.
This show in particular is hard to do due to its peculiar settings/props. For the most part, having a car, or even a cardboard one, is not only difficult for the building crew, but also hard on audience since it may hinder view of the actors. On the other hand, I think this play is also very flexible. A car for one show could be an actual car whereas another could be just two chairs. Therefore, I think that majority theatres that would best suit this play would be ones that are not too distant that viewers have a problem seeing while also not being too intimate. Having an approach of less direct, intimate interaction with audience allows for people to better understand how the chorus members are representing 3 people. They may stand more off from the main action, which can be difficult in a situation such as a black box theatre. Additionally, hanging traffic lights and such would be better presented in a head on or slightly angled view such as with thrust and proscenium stages.
The play may be Implied to be straight on, but venues can exist outside of proscenium and thrust. As suggested in class, a dorm can even suffice. Theater has been a form of entertainment, culture, and self expression long before elaborate theaters were built to hold audiences and fit the play’s specific needs. Sometimes, two chairs are actually better than a full car.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play?
One of the most obvious is that it's a play involving cars (even the title is about driving). However, cars on live set are difficult to have and even in the situation in which you can get a car, or something that looks like one, it can be very difficult to see for viewers.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play?
For the Female Greek Chorus, who plays the mother, aunt Mary, High School Girls, thirties-fifty, a more adult dress would probably be most. It emphasizes how these are the older, e female figures in Li’l Bit’s life. They also, therefore, have more authority in situations. This especially applies to the high school girls who feel superior to Li’l Bit. This idea that what the female characters in Li’l Bit’s life say is more trustworthy since they're older may have some influence in Li’l Bit’s decision to not try and explain what all has been going on. She may be worried that people will judge her or maybe not even believe her.
The Male Greek Chorus: Plays the grandfather, waiter, high school boys. Similar to the female chorus, their dress should match that of a young adults. However, I also think it's good to touch on the typical dress they wore where they live. Men are seen as the dominant, working contributors to the family. The grandfather, especially,, seems to believe in a more traditional household and enjoys showing his confidence,
Teenage Greek Chorus: Plays the grandmother, high school girls, and the voice of 11 year old Li’l Bit. Since this character is the one chorus who represents Li’l Bit at 11, it's important to help portray how she's young without freaking out the audience too much. As Paula Vogel suggests, you don't want people to be so uncomfortable that they actually believe the person to be under 18 so much so that they need to leave.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play?
Considering the difficulties already setup as majority the play being centered around driving, implementing car and car related lighting is the best way to convey the image to the audience. For example, car headlights, along with sound effects, can be added when the ignition is turned on.
Traffic signal lights can also be used to cue the audience. Everyone is familiar with green meaning go and red meaning stop. Is projected of a bicycle in a circle with a diagonal red slash. This projection was used to give people the image of an idea as Lil Bit follows this light. With explaining her realization of pedophile not meaning people who like bikes
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play.
Non lyrical music to add suspension in situations in which Li’l Bot feels confused or anxious. Since the general vibe is uncomfortable and/or confused, it'd be good to having a soundtrack of sorts that followed a general theme in rhythm through the play. I really liked how the play writer also added a list of sexist songs around the time the play takes place. This definitely allows people to delve deeper into the time era with nostalgia while also reflecting on just how bad some of the songs around the time were to females in such a man-dominated society.